Examining foster care: a viable solution for placement of handicapped children?

Foster care for handicapped children has become a frequently used and even more frequently criticized procedure. Traditional methods of foster placement have resulted in a number of negative outcomes, especially for the placed children. Based on a review of some recent innovative foster care programs, this paper has isolated a number of options for the restructuring of the entire foster care delivery system. These options include: rigorous client evaluation, use of selection and training criteria for foster parents, matching of client needs to caregiver abilities in making placement decisions, and ongoing professional support and supervision after placement. Systematic consideration of these issues may help make foster care a more viable solution to the growing problem of home placement for handicapped children.